hopes for legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff now turns to the senate, but white house and republicans remain far apart. senators and staffers will be filling these empty hallways today trying to work out a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. higher taxes will give the average american about $1,500 less to spend next year, and economists believe the $110 billion spending cuts will result in more layoffs. senator harry reid has a plan to keep taxes low for everyone making less than $250,000 a year as well as short-term spending cuts until a bigger deal can be reached. >> it is going to be a patch because in four days we can't solve everything. >> while senators try to brave the bad weather in many parts of the country in order to make it back here to washington, house leaders say they will not leave home unless the senate passes its bill first. house republicans scuttled a proposal from speaker john boehner last week, and 48% of americans say they are to blame if no deal is reached. >> both sides here have a problem with the american people, and it's why congress has an 11% job approval rat